Father Of Soldier Who Died On Hottest Day Of The Year Says Army Isn't To Blame

Corporal Josh Hoole at the 'RIFLES 7' passing out parade on July 10 2016. Featured image credit: SWNS

The father of a soldier who died on a training exercise on the hottest day of the year has said that the death wasn't the army's fault and troops shouldn't be 'wrapped in cotton wool'.

Corporal Josh Hoole, 26, died last week while on a gruelling run in the Brecon Beacons during heatwave temperatures. But his father, Phillip Hoole, a former sergeant major, says the army's tough training regime isn't to blame for his son's death.

"It was a normal run which took place with no extra beastings and was done within the confines laid down by the army," said Phillip.

"He was about 200 metres from the end and he told someone he wasn't feeling too good and then he collapsed. Then members of the army around him and the medics did their best to save him."

Josh was on an exercise as part of a selection programme for the Platoon Sergeants' Battle Course and the cause of death has yet to be established.

In the days following the incident, politicians have questioned the army's methods of training in high temperatures. However, Phillip said placing more checks on the army's training methods would treat soldiers like they were wrapped in cotton wool.

Rifles soldiers training in the Brecon Beacons the day after Josh's death. Featured image credit: SWNS

"Josh wouldn't have been happy with the way that people have had a knee-jerk reaction straight away simply because it was the hottest day of the year," Phillip said. "He always pushed himself 100 per cent. He always gave his all. He led by example.

"Even if he was taking part in the Carlisle parkrun with me, he would be pushing himself 100 per cent, leaving his old dad in his wake.

"But he was also a very caring young man who would help anybody. All those who knew him were blessed to spend time with him. Josh wouldn't have wanted the soldiers that were with him, or the medics, to feel any personal blame. He was doing his job and he knew the risks."

Phillip spent 24 years with the Devonshire & Dorset regiment, and Josh's brother, Tyrone, is also a solider.

Josh was due to be best man at Tyrone's wedding to Carey Taylor, 25, this weekend in Edinburgh. The wedding is expected to still go ahead, with his brother, who is with 3 Rifles, set to read out the best man's speech that Josh had written for the wedding.

RIP Corporal Josh Hoole.

Words by James Dawson

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Topics: Death, Heat, soldier, Dead

James Dawson

James Dawson is a Journalist at LADbible. He has contributed articles to LADbible’s ‘Knowing Me, Knowing EU’ series on the EU referendum, the 'Electoral Dysfunction' series on the 2017 general election, the ‘U OK M8?’ series tackling mental health amongst young men, and for its ‘Climate Change’ initiative in partnership with National Geographic.

@thejaytoday